If you have a broken down appliance, how do you decide whether you should call an appliance repair company or buy a new one? Too many homeowners are shelling out big bucks for shiny new appliances when a service call could extend the life of their existing refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers and ranges for years, saving money, time and trouble. Before you go shopping for a new model consider the age of the appliance and the cost to repair versus the cost to replace.